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Canadian Tour Picks Back Up in Austin

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AUSTIN, Texas -- Just two days after wrapping up the season-opening event for 2005, the Canadian Tour is back in action beginning Thursday, closing out a two-week swing through Texas with the Barton Creek Austin Canadian Tour Challenge presented by Yes! Golf.

An international field of 144 golfers will compete in the $100,000 event with Sundays winner adding $16,000 to his bank account.

The Golf Channel will feature live four-day coverage beginning with Thursdays opening round. Broadcast times are 3-5 pm EST Thursday-Sunday.

Scott Gibson of Huntington Beach, Calif. is coming off a nine-shot win earlier this week to get the early jump on the money list. He will go in search of his second consecutive triumph at Barton Creeks 6,523-yard, par-70 Crenshaw Cliffside course, looking to match a feat last accomplished by Stephen Woodard in 2004 at the Telus Edmonton Open and Montreal Open.

Chris Wisler of Dover, Del. is the defending champion, winning the weather-shortened 54-hole event by one shot over Canadian Adam Short a year ago.

Five-time PGA Tour champion Blaine McCallister will once again be in the starting field. Playing on a sponsors exemption last week, McCallister finished second to Gibson. Wes Short and Omar Uresti have also been granted berths into the tournament, as has Green Bay Packers kicker Ryan Longwell, who missed the cut this past week.

Some of the biggest names in professional golf have plied their trade on the Canadian Tour including 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, Stuart Appleby, Chris DiMarco, Craig Parry, Steve Stricker and Scott McCarron. The top 25 tour grads have won more than $150 million on golfs biggest stage